Clinical markers of hyperandrogenism and response to conventional antibiotic therapy in women with acne vulgaris (original) (raw)

Cyproterone acetate (CPA) is probably the most widely used systemic anti-androgen used in the treatment of hirsute women. Although it is licensed for use in a dose of 2 mg daily, it is normally administered in larger doses. There is, however, little objective evidence upon which to base this practice. We have therefore performed a double-blind dose-ranging study to compare (i) Dianette (Schering Health Care), which contains 35 /xg ethinyl oestradiol and 2 mg CPA, (ii) Dianette with 20 mg CPA and (iii) Dianette with 100 mg CPA. The supplementary CPA was administered for 10 days in the reverse Hammer stein regimen.^ The study protocol lasted for i year. Hair growth was measured subjectively by the Ferriman and Gallwey scale^ and by objective measurements of hair-shaft diameter and linear growth rates of facial, forearm, abdominal and thigh hair.